Vacuum regulator



Feb. 15, 194% T. J. SULLWAN VACUUM REGULATOR Filed De. 9, 1944 2 SheetsSheet 1 \YTEAM O'UFFL V Z0 NE zo/vs A/aZ.

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VACUUM PUMP 95' VACUUM RETURN Eel). 15, 1949. r. J. SULLIVAN VACUUM REGULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1944 Patented Feb. 15, 1949 2,461,666 VACUUM REdfiiJA'roit "Timothy J. Sullivan, Butte,,'-Mont,, "assign'onto Sullivan Valve and Engineering Company, Butte, Mont, a corporation of Montana "Animation December 9, 1944,Sei*ial'No." 567,451

8 Claims. (C13. 237-) 1 This invention relates to vacuum' regulators" for vacuumste'am heating systems.

One of the objects of this invention is to pro- "vide a control to regulate the vacuum in each of "several units supplied from a common steam boilerso that the steam supply from the boiler will'beproportionately distributed to the units.

IAnother object of this invention is to provide a jcontrolof the type mentioned above which may be adjusted so as tovary 'the vacuum in a unit to "i nc r'ease or decrease the volume of steam passing therethrough.

A further object of this invention is to provide a control of thejtypeset' forth above whichjwill also act as a steam trap to return condensed stea'mto the vacuum return line.

A still further object of theinvention is to provide a control of the character noted above which may be influenced by outside temperatures. I

Other objects of the invention are to provide a control as set out above which will be simple in cohstrucuomeas wo repair and readily adjustable.

These and other objects of this invention will becom pparent in the "description which follows taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

' Figu're' I'is' a dia'grammatic viewof a vacuum 1 steam heating system illustrating one application of thisin'ven'tion; I

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the vacuum regulator;

Figure 3 -is a vertical section' taken on line 3-"-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section of thevacuum conitrol valve illustrating'a modified form of adjust- "ment for the valve; and

' Figure 5 'isa vertical section of the vacuum control valve illustrating a modified control system "for'the valve. v

Referring now to Figure 1, the heating system includes four separate-zones to be heated, a boiler l0, a vacuum pump I I, a steam trap l2, a vacuum regulator l3 for each of the four zones, a steam 1 supply line l4,and a vacuum return line [5; Each zone'is connected to the. steam supply line I4 which is in turn connected to theboiler l0. Each zone is also connected through a vacuum regulator l3 to the vacuum return line I5 which in turn leads to a vacuum pump ll, steam trap l2 and finally, to the boiler I0, thus providing a complete closed heating system.

The zones each represent different buildings at various distances from the boiler l0. The zone .No. l closest to the boiler l should have a lower degree of-vacuum than'zone No. Awhich-isfar I .2. I thes't from the boiler m sdthat zone No. lwillnot rob zone No. 4 of steam. The vacuum regulator I3 is set for each zone so that eachwill receive a "proportionate supply of steam.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the vacuum'reguf'lator is in the form of a chambered housing'havingalower portion l 6, an upper portion I I secured to the lower portion l6 and forming a chamber l8 therebetween. The-lower portion 16 is provided' with an inlet-port l9; anoutlet port 29, a sump 2| and a vacuum'return nipple 22. A bypassline 23 at'its upper end communicates with the interior of the chamber 18 and is provided with a port 24. The bypass line 23 at itslower end is connected to the vacuumreturn'nipple 22 by means'of port 25.

-A yoke 26" 'is seated in outlet port" 26 and is :adapted to receive a valve seat and guide -21 which is mounted therein. A valve 28 is mounted in the valve seat and guide 2! and is adapted to be seated therein so as to close-the opening between the return nipple 22 and the chamber-'13 of the housing. 3 The valve 28 is controlledbymeans of afloat 29 which is supported by float rod36. The float rod 30 is pivotally carried by yoke 26 which also acts as a guide therefor. The valve 28 is pivotally attached to the float 'rod 30' so that movement of float 29 will be communicated to the valve 28.

An opening 3| is provided in the upper portion I'I'of'the vacuum regulator l3; saidopening 3| is coaxial with theport '24 in the bypass line 23 and overlies it. A sleeve 32 ismounted in the opening 3| and has: a bushing 33 secured in the upper end thereof. The bushing 33 carries a tubularbellows'stop 34 extending'downwardlyfrom.

saidbushing 33 and coaxial with said sleeve 32.

A valve 35 is adapted to close port 24 in bypass line-23 and is operated by a bellows 36 which is a-t'its lower end to boss 3?. The'boss 31 is adapted connected at its upper end to the bushing 33 and to contact the lowerendof bellows stop 34 to limit the upper travelof the'bo'ss 31, to prevent collapse iof bellows 36. A valve stem 38 is securedto the boss 31 and extends upwardly therefrom. A spring 39 surrounds the valve stem 38 and bears f at'its lower end against an internal flange of a spring" guide tube 40. The spring guide tube is externally flanged at its upper end so as to overlie the bushing 33 and to be supported thereby. The upper end of the valve stem 38 is screw threaded to receive adjusting nuts 4| which with washer 42 maintain 'the'spring 39 under the desired com- -pression. The valve 35 is also adapted to "be controlled by thermostatic diaphragm 43' whichis 3 secured to the under side of the boss 31. The valve 35 is secured to the thermostatic diaphragm 43. A cover 44 is positioned over the upper end of the bushing 33 and is vented to the atmosphere by a port 45.

A combination vacuum pressure gage 46 is connected into the bypass line 23 and a second combination vacuum pressure gage 41 is connected into the chamber l8.

Referring now to Figure 4 in which a modified valve actuation mechanism is disclosed, the valve 35 is secured to the lower end of thermostatic diaphragm 43 and the boss 37 receives the thermostatic diaphragm 43. A bellows 36 is secured at one end to the bushing 33' and at the :other end to the boss 31'. A bellows stop 34 limits the-upward movement of the .boss 31', all in substantially the same manner as in Figures 2 and 3. A weight system is provided to bias the valve to open position and comprises a valve stem 38' secured to the boss 31' at one end. A yoke 48 is secured to the upper end of bushing 33', and a weight rod 49 is pivotally mounted in yoke 48 with the inner end thereof pivotally connected to the upper end of valve stem 38'. A weight 50 is adjustably mounted on the weight rod 49 so as to adjust the biasing load on the valve 35.

Referring to Figure in which another modification of the valve actuation mechanism is I disclosed, the valve is secured to the lower end of thermostatic diaphragm 43. A boss 31 receives the upper end of thermostatic diaphragm 43'. A bellows 36 is secured at its lower end to the boss 31 and at its upper end to the bushing 33". A bellows stop 34 limits the upward movement of the boss 31, all in substantially the same manner as in Figures 2 and 3.

A modified form of valve actuation mechanism comprises a valve stem 38", a second bellows 5| secured to the upper end of valve stem 38", a tubular externally threaded connector rod 52 secured to the upper end of the bellows 5|, a spring 39 seated at its lower end on the upper edge of bushing 33", and a pair of spring compression adjusting nuts 4| mounted on the connector rod 52 which with washer 42' maintain the spring 39' under the desired compression.

The effective length of the bellows 5| is varied by vmeans of a bulb 53 which contains a fluid which will expand and contract with temperature variations. The bulb 53 is operatively connected to the bellows 5| by means of a line '54 leading to the tubular connector 52. The bulb 53 is mounted in a wall 55 and extends outwardly bellows 36 to overcome the compression of the 2,461,666 f: f" if ,This will reduce the amount of uncondensed steam which otherwise would be drawn through that particular unit.

An engineer by comparing the readings of gages 46 and 41 will be able to determine the conditions in each zone and can make suitable adjustments of the vacuum demand of that zone.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 4, the operation is essentially the same as that of Figures 2 and 3 except that an adjustable weight 50 and weight arm 49 are used to vary the load on the valve 35.

In the modification. illustrated in Figure 5, the general operation is substantially the same as in Figures 2 and 3 with the addition of a temperature responsive control to vary the vacuum in accordance with outside temperatures. The effective length of the bellows 5| varies with the temperature of the fluid in the bulb 53, and the vacuum control is therefore adjusted in accordance with the expected load on the heating system. As the outside temperature drops, the bellows 5| Will contract, effectively decreasing the length of the composite stem of the valve and thereby increasing the vacuum required in chamber |8 to close the valve. This of course will increase the rate of supply of steam to the unit and will tend to make the inside temperature independent of fluctuations in outside temperature.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction herein shown and described and that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A vacuum regulator system for steam heating plants of the type having a common steam supply for several separate units located in the several spaces to be heated, and a common vacuum return for said units; said regulator system comprising a plurality of vacuum regulators, one of said regulators being attached between the vacuum return line and each unit; each of said regulators comprising a chambered housing, means for connecting said housing to said unit, means for connecting said housing'to said vacuum return line, means for controlling the degree of vacuum in said housing, means responsive to temperature changes of the atmosphere inside said housing for adjusting said first named means and means responsive to temperature changes of the atmosphere outside of said enclosed spaces for also adjusting said first named means.

2. A vacuum regulator system as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for controlling the degree of vacuum inside said housing comprises a valve for closing a port between said housing and said vacuum return line, a valve stem connected to said valve, 9. spring for biasing said valve to open position, adjustable means on said valve stem for varying the compression of said spring and a bellows responsive to the resultant of the pressure of the atmosphere outside of said housing and the pressure of the atmosphere inside of said housing for closing said valve.

3. A vacuum regulator system as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for controlling the degree of vacuum inside of said housing comprises a valve for closing a port between said housing and said vacuum return line, a valve stem for said valve, means associated with said valve stem for biasing said valve to open position, adjustable means for varying the pressure of said valve biasing means, and a bellows responsive to the resultant of the pressure of the atmosphere outside of said housing and the pressure of the atmosphere inside of said housin for closing said valve, and in which said means responsive to temperature changes of the atmosphere inside said housing comprises a thermostatic diaphragm connected between said valve stem and said valve whereby changes in temperature of the atmosphere in said housing will contract or expand said diaphragm and thereby change the effective length of said valve stem varying the preset adjustments controlling the opening and closing of said valve.

4. A vacuum regulator system according to claim 1 in which the means for controlling the degree of vacuum inside of said housin comprises a valve for closing a port between said housing and said vacuum return line, a valve stem for said valve, means associamd with said valve stem for. biasing said valve to open position, adjustable means for varying the pressure of said valve biasing means, a bellows responsive to the resultant of the pressure of the atmosphere outside of said housing and the pressure of the atmosphere inside of said housing for closing said valve, and in which said means responsive to temperature changes of the atmosphere outside of said enclosed spaces comprising a second bellows connected between said valve stem and said valve biasing means, and means for varying the length of said second named bellows according to temperatures of the atmosphere outside of said enclosed spaces whereby changes in said last m ntioned temperatures will contract or expand said second named bellows and thereby change the efiective length of said valve stem varying the preset-adjustments controlling the opening and closing of said valve.

5. A vacuum regulator for vacuum steam heating systems comprising a chambered housing having an inlet for connection to the exhaust side of a heating unit, a vacuum return line extending into said housing and having a port communicating said line with said housing, a valve for closing said port, a bellows responsive to the resultant of the pressure of the atmosphere outside of said housing and the pressure of the atmosphere inside of said housing for closing said valve when the degree of vacuum within said housing attains a preselected value, means for biasing said valve to open position, and means responsive to the entrance of a substantial quantity of live steam into said housing for closing said valve at a lesser degree of vacuum within said housing than would result in a valve closure by said bellows.

6. A vacuum regulator as claimed in claim 5 in which the valve biasing means comprises a valve stem, a spring surrounding said valve stem, and means mounted on the upper end of said valve stem for maintaining an adjustable compression of said spring.

7. A vacuum regulator as claimed in claim 5 in which the valve biasing mean comprises a valve stem, a pivoted weight arm connected to the upper end of said valve stem and a weight adjustably mounted on said Weight arm.

8. A vacuum regulator as claimed in claim 5 in which a float-actuated valve is provided to drain steam condensate from the housing;

TIMOTHY J. SULLIVAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 1,879,791 Carson Sept. 2'7, 1932 2,046,760 -Adlarn July 7, 1936 2,i)65,778 Whittington Dec. 29, 1936 2,112,211 Parks Mar. 22, 1938 2,325,487 Donneily July 27, 1943 2,249,706 Ferguson July 15, 1941 

